France’s Safran group plans to embark on a restructuring effort to better advance the so-called more electric aircraft concept and the increased application of electronics in aircraft systems and subsystems. In his first ever press interview, new CEO Jean-Paul Herteman told AIN that the revamp, due to start in early 2009, will “take on critical importance” in developing a generation of less fuel-hungry aircraft. He said that the strategy will unfold over the next decade with the replacement of the current generation of engines–including the CFM56 family made by Safran subsidiary Snecma in partnership with General Electric–and the development of new single-aisle airliners.
Simultaneously, if the dollar continues to slide in value against the euro, Safran companies will move more production outside high-cost Europe. Herteman confirmed that while the Snecma/ Sagem merger to create Safran has been positive for the electronics and engines side of the business, a lack of synergies in the communications sector forced the group to offload its Sagem Communications division.
